Banjo



(No ModeL) A. C. FAIRBANKS.

BANJO.

NVENTOR WITNESSES PETERS. Phow-liflvogaphor, Wnshlnglon, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT O. FAIRBANKS, OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 327,779, dated October6, 1885.

Application filed April 21, 1882.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT O. FAIRBANKS, of Boston, in the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Banjos, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to provide a cheap, simple, andefficient device whereby the musical tone or resonance of a banjo may bevery much increased in volume or compass of sound, and in details ofconstruction tending to render the same more desirable; and it consistsin the construction, combination, and arrangement of a metallic cymbalor inverted domeshaped sounder or bell or sounding device of othersuitable material arranged with its concave surface or mouth in closeproximity to or in contact with the parchment head of the banjo, and indetails of construction hereinafter more fully described, and set forthin the claims.

Figure 1 represents a vertical central section of a banjo constructedaccording to my invention. Fig. 2 represents a similar view of amodification of the same. Fig. 3 represents a view of a furthermodification of the same. Fig. 4 represents a section view of de tailsof construction.

A represents the Wood hoop-rim, provided at intervals with brackets andother devices for straining the parchment head, as usual, which head Bis stretched over and rests at its circumference upon the bead orturnedover edge of the mouth of the sheet-metal bell or cymbal G, whichrest at its periphery or circumferentialwire or ring E upon the top orupper edge of the said hoop-rim A, and is provided with a series ofsound-holes, T, near its mouth or periphery, and is set in vibration byvibration of the parchment head B, and is free from all other parts ofthe instrument, so as to be capable of unrestrained vibrations, which ineffect give out a clear and bell-like ringing tone when played upon.

Now, in order to increase the bell-tone by a more free vibration of themouth or periphery of the bell or cymbal O, I connect the same at itsbottom or central part to the brace or Serial No. 59,082. (No model.)

cross rod D, extending from the handle F to the opposite side of thehoop-rim A, leaving its mouth in near proximity to the said parchmenthead B, its periphery being turned over downward, leaving a narrowcircumferential or annular space intervening between it and the innerface of the saidhoop-rim A, as shown in Fig. 2.

I also contemplate a construction somewhat different from that shown inFig. 1, and which is shown in Fig. 3, wherein the bell or cymbal O isconstructed deeper and has its periphery or edge turned down or over, soas to fit upon the circumferential wire H, which is provided with anarrow sheet-metal flange, L, which is embedded or fitted in a recessformed around the outer upper edge portion of the said wood hoop-rim A,so as to stand flush or even therewith, by which means the parchmenthead 13, when wet and being stretched over the outside of the upperportion of the finished or varnished hoop-rim A, is prevented fromsticking thereto, as shown in Fig. 4, and such metal band gives agreater contrast and better appearance than a whole metal rim orcovering, and is also much lighter and more desirable, as the musicaltones are softer and sweeter from a hooprim composed of part wood andpart metal, where the wood is left free at a portion of the saidhoop-rim to vibrate, and as the parchment B (shown in position over thesaid metal flange L in Fig. 4) leaves the lower portion of the saidhoop-rim, or that portion most remote from said metal, free to vibrate,the sharp or harsh tones of the metal are subdued and rendered agreeableor musical, thereby increasing the mellifluence of the'instrumentstones.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a banjo orother parchment-head instrument, the metal bell-shaped device 0, havingits mouth at or near the parchment head thereof, for the purposes setforth.

2. In a banjo or other parchment-head instrument, the metallicbell-shaped device 0, having its mouth arranged near the parchment head,but not in contact therewith, so

as to be left free to vibrate independently holes, T, near the mouththereof, substanthereof, substantially as described, as and for tiallyas described, as and for the purposes set the purposes set forth. forth.

3. In a banjo or analogous instrument, the ALBERT G. FAIRBANKS. 5sheet-metal bell-shaped device 0, having its Witnesses:

mouth portion arranged near the parchment SYLVENUs WALKER, head andprovided with a series of sound- JAMES T. DORSEY.

